Tuesday, September 19, 2017

Cuts Coming to Maplecrest Village

Grimsby, ON—Two Revera-owned retirement homes in the Niagara region will soon experience deep cuts to staffing levels, a move that will significantly affect the care given to the residents of Maplecrest Village in Grimsby and Garrison Place in Fort Erie.

Many of the frontline staff at these homes, members of Niagara Health and Service Workers Union, CLAC Local 302, will see a drastic reduction in their work hours, and some will be reduced from full-time to part-time status, resulting in a loss of health benefits. Maplecrest is losing 138 service hours biweekly.

“These cuts will compromise basic care,” says Michael Reid, CLAC representative. “We have been unable to get Revera to describe how services can be maintained, and we are very concerned that residents will be left without the care they need and for which they have paid. Many residents at Maplecrest pay in excess of $3,000 per month for rent and services.”

Staff report that residents at these homes rely on the care provided to ensure they receive the right medicine at the right time. Residents often forget their medical restrictions involving food, and also need assistance with basic activities of daily living.

“This should be of deep concern to all of us,” says Reid. “If we don’t act to defend the vulnerable now, what will the conditions be like when we are all too old to speak up for ourselves?”

According to Reid, Revera has made no effort to consider the input or advice of the workers who perform the work since announcing the cutbacks. They have provided no explanation as to how residents will continue to receive adequate care in the face of decreased staffing.

“These cuts also affect jobs in our community, jobs that have already been paid for by the monthly rents of the residents in these homes. They deserve to receive the services for which they have paid,” says Reid.

Maplecrest staff is holding an information picket on Saturday, September 23, from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. at Maplecrest Village (85 Main Street East) in Grimsby.

“We welcome the community to join us and stand up for our community retirement homes,” says Reid.

Cuts Coming to Maplecrest Village

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